Atiku: Celebrating a nationalist at 70

AGE is nothing but a number, age is in the mind! These are aphorisms and witty sayings; but the age of 70 is not only in the mind and a number, it is also in the Holy Bible as the recommended age offered man by God beyond which the individual so favoured is enjoying extra grace or bonus. According to Psalm 90:10, seventy is the sum of our years, or eighty, if we are strong; Most of them are toil and sorrow; they pass quickly, and we are gone.

Atiku Abubakar will attain this milestone on the 25th of November 2016, despite all odds and viscidities of life which all mortals face in their daily existence; particularly in our part of the world. This is special for anyone so bestowed with the gift of long life. It is rare in Nigeria to be 70 years in good health of mind and body, and in harmony with God and man. The life expectancy of Nigeria, following World Health Organisation’s reports for a long time now had been 47; but was recently said to have improved to 52 years. This is why this season calls for celebration and thanksgiving to God for keeping this nationalist alive as he continues to touch the lives of many and their families.

Turakin Adamawa is a foremost Nigerian nationalist of the contemporary epoch with immense love for his nation and her citizens. He enjoys a global view of life but acts so locally that the development of his native rural communities of Jada, Yola and Adamawa are very dear to his heart. He has pursued this with determination and a sense of duty that everyone who visits Adamawa will not fail to admire his courage. Atiku has put Adamawa on the world map and has brought the world to Adamawa through his better life and development investments, especially in the education sector.

In today’s Nigeria, it is difficult to find anyone whose sense of patriotism equals the practical demonstration of love for Nigeria and humanity as exemplified by Atiku Abubakar. In a country troubled by values of primitive loyalty, the former Vice President of Nigeria built the foundations of his household with diverse stones representing the diversity of Nigeria and the universality of the world.

Atiku’s family is a global village where wives, children and domestic aides have roots and blood relationships beyond the confines of his native Adamawa, Northern Nigeria and even Nigeria and Africa.

His politics is without bitterness as if he learnt from the legendary Waziri Ibrahim. It is also devoid of clannish mentality and provincial interests. Atiku does not promote religious bigotry, ethnic chauvinism and class dichotomy. He is at home with both the rich and poor. This makes it easier for most of us who serve him in official capacity feel very much at home with him whenever duty calls for personal interaction. This is unlike most Nigeria big shots who effortlessly intimidate the weak and their subordinates both in formal and informal settings. Atiku’s heart is large and legendarily forgiven and tolerant on the basis of our common humanity. The pillars of his massive, strong and sustainable political machinery are found all over Nigeria and Africa, irrespective of tribe, tongue and religion. Atiku is a true son of Africa as well as a golden son of Adamawa State.

He has shown by his life that poverty and deprivation are not barriers to success and prosperity for those who are determined to change the situations of their birth. At 70, Atiku Abubakar has used his time well. He has great investments in oil and gas, maritime and logistic services spanning more than 30 years. He runs businesses in publishing, communications, broadcast media, beverages and animal feeds geared towards the promotion of agriculture and peace between farmers and herdsmen.

Atiku, who served as the Vice President of Nigeria from 1999 to 2007 has toiled in the defence of the constitution of Nigeria and laboured for the promotion of democracy; struggles that endangered his life and career, pitching him against forces of political darkness who haunt him till today but for God’s abiding love and mercy. He is a husband of four wives following his Islamic faith and a father of many children in a big happy home; a value he subscribes to from his experiences of lonely childhood. He is founder of a leading development University-the American University of Nigeria, where students’ dreams are moulded into Africa’s future in Yola, the first of its kind in sub-Saharan Africa.

These achievements have not robbed him of his natural humility and humanity as he chose to avoid a lavish 70th birthday, urging friends, family and political associates to donate resources for such public adulations and felicitations in aid of the internally displaced people and the poor in our midst. According to him, “giving back to humanity has been his passion and that his friends and associates can honour him better if they spend their resources on charitable causes to celebrate his special day.”

As he turns 70, I join the rest of his business, political and social associates in wishing him a longer life in good health of body and mind. And pray that God gives him the extra grace and strength for a continued service to our country and its people.

A leader and politician with a difference.
Happy 70th birthday to a true leader, rare gem, democrat and man of the people.
Good health and More years, Welcome to the septuagenarians club Turaki Nigeria.